Community Histories

The Lake of Bays Heritage Foundation profiles communities around Lake of Bays each year at our Annual General Meeting. The focus of each meeting includes presenting a number of heritage building awards to owners who maintain and enjoy them. A video and booklet about the area is also produced. These publications appear below and the videos are available in Resources. Lake of Bays has an incredible history, but if it is not documented, it will fade with time.

In each case, we work with permanent and seasonal residents who live in the area to develop the history. They bring a lifetime of memories and many generations of stories.

The following booklets have been developed to date. Hard copies are available for sale by contacting the LBHF or these electronic copies are free to be downloaded for your enjoyment.

Clovelly

The Clovelly community history can be traced back to land registry records in 1902. Located near South Portage Road and Whitehouse Bay, 23 lots were created for cottages and at one time the area also featured the Whitehouse Hotel run by the Alldred family.

Seabreeze Beach lies on the south shore of Ten Mile Bay. It was settled in the 1880s by pioneers who received land grants and attempted to farm. A large wharf built in 1921 allowed the Iroquois steamship to deliver people and supplies during summers as the farms changed gradually into cottage lots.

Bona Vista is a small community on the west side of Lake of Bays between Clovelly and Britannia and across from Point Ideal. This community was established by a group of ministers, generally Presbyterian, around 1910.

Dwight Beach Road and Lake of Bays Lane run along the north and east shore of Dwight Bay. Dwight was once a popular hunting destination for American tourists and Lake of Bays Lane offers a charming history that began as "Lovers Lane."

Scott's Boathouse Road is located on the south shore of Lake of Bays, between Norway Point and Grove Park. Running from Old Highway 117, the area was surveyed in the mid-1800s and has a rich history of cottage and year-round residents.

DorsetA short, dirt road tucked away in the trees, easily missed even when you’re looking for it. Dissecting cottage properties from the lakefront—prone to potholes after a winter thaw and dotted with warning signs to slow down, for the sake of children, through the summer months—this is Bigwin View Lane.

Acquired over 50 per cent of the Lower Oxtongue River for permanent protection, including 6.5 km of shoreline.

Preserved one mile of natural shoreline and 47-acres of forest at Port Cunnington.

Partnered with the Ontario Heritage Trust to be the steward of the 100-acre Pyke property near Brown's Brae.

Recognized more than 30 building owners with plaques for heritage property protection.

Encouraged the Township to create a Heritage Committee of Council to encourage protection.

Rescued the Bigwin ferry from a sunken mooring in 1991 and conducted feasibility studies to transfer to the current Navigation Society for restoration.

Established the Harriet T. Weaver Memorial Trust which funds two bursaries each year to assist one student from each of Bracebridge and Huntsville high schools to help pay for their first year of university or college.